FC Arsenal Kyiv
Football Club Arsenal Kyiv[1][2][3] (Ukrainian: Футбо́льний Клуб Арсена́л–Київ) is a Ukrainian football club based in Kyiv.[4] In 2019, the club's professional team was dissolved, but its junior teams continue to compete in city competitions.[citation needed] The club claims to be a successor of Kyiv Arsenal factory team which traces its history back to 1925. The original factory team used to compete in the Soviet Class B (later reorganized as Soviet Second League), but was relegated in 1964 and officially dissolved (lost professional status).
| Full name | Football Club Arsenal Kyiv |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Zbroyari (Gunsmith in English) |
| Founded | 1925 |
| Ground | Arsenal-Knyazha Arena, Shchaslyve Kolos Stadium, Boryspil CSK ZSU Stadium, Kyiv Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium, Kyiv |
| Capacity | 1,000 (Arsenal-Knyazha Arena) 5,654 (Kolos Stadium) 12,000 (CSK ZSU Stadium) 16,873 (Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium) |
| President | Ivica Pirić |
| Head coach | Ihor Leonov |
| 2018–19 | Ukrainian Premier League, 12th (withdrawn) |
| Website | Club website |
| Current season | |
The football club of the Ukrainian post-Soviet period was created in 1993 and brought to Kyiv from Boryspil by a geological company Geoton which was one of main sponsors of the Football Federation of Ukraine and Ukraine national football team in the beginning. In 1995–2001 through a merger, the club was reconstituted by the Ministry of Defense as a separate government enterprise[5] not part of the Central Sports Club of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During that period (1995–2001) it competed in the Ukrainian Top League under CSKA Kyiv brand as its senior (main) squad, while the original army squad continued to compete in lower leagues. In 1995 it was relocated to Kyiv playing at CSK ZSU Stadium and carried such names CSKA-Borysfen and CSKA, while the original FC CSKA Kyiv competing in lower leagues changed its name to CSKA-2 as its reserve squad.[6] Due to difficulty of financing, the ownership of senior squad was transferred to the Kyiv city authorities during the winter break of 2001–02 as part of Oleksandr Omelchenko political project and the newly acquired squad was renamed as Arsenal[7] in memory of the factory team.
Between 2002 and 2008, Arsenal was a municipal club of Kyiv city and played its games at the Olympiyskiy National Sports Complex. Later when the club was sold to the Ukrainian politician Vadym Rabinovych who promised to build own stadium for the club within the Kyiv city limits, but instead came up with a campaign to revive the history of another Arsenal Kyiv, a factory team of Kyiv Arsenal, which was dissolved in 1960s and consider the current Arsenal Kyiv a phoenix club of its predecessor. In 2013 soon after Rabinovych sold the club to another Ukrainian politician it was abandoned and dissolved.
Due to the efforts of Ukrainian racer Oleksiy Kikireshko, the club was revived in 2014 as Arsenal-Kyiv and based in Shchaslyve[8] located right on eastern outskirts of Kyiv.
History
Timeline and names
- 1925–1963: During this period the first installment of the club was originally formed as Mashynobudivnyk (Machinist) and then later, Arsenal.
- In 1963 Arsenal was dissolved and replaced by Temp Kyiv, its sports school continued to compete at city competitions.
- 1993–2013: The second installment of the club was formed under the name Borysfen and later changed names due to several events during this period.
- 1993: Borysfen → Nyva–Borysfen : the club merged with FC Nyva Myronivka in the Transitional League in the middle of the 1992–93 season as Nyva–Borysfen.
- 1993: Nyva–Borysfen → FC Borysfen Boryspil : started out in the Second League in place of FC Nyva Myronivka, due to the merger, for the 1993–94 season under the new name of FC Borysfen Boryspil.
- 1994: FC Borysfen Boryspil → FC Boryspil : then changed its name to FC Boryspil during winter break and gained promotion and the end of the season.
- 1994: FC Borysfen Boryspil → FC CSKA–Borysfen Boryspil : merged with CSK ZSU Kyiv as FC CSKA–Borysfen Boryspil for the 1994–95 season
- 1995: FC CSKA–Borysfen Boryspil → FC CSKA–Borysfen Kyiv : relocated to Kyiv, which saw another name change to highlight its base at the CSK ZSU Stadium in Kyiv, which belonged to the Central Sports Club of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- 1996: FC CSKA–Borysfen Kyiv → FC CSKA Kyiv and FC Borysfen Boryspil : a disagreement with members and key stakeholders of the club brought about the splitting of FC CSKA–Borysfen Kyiv to form FC CSKA Kyiv and FC Borysfen Boryspil.
- 2001: FC CSKA Kyiv → FC Arsenal Kyiv : during this year, the Kyiv City governing body purchased the club from Ministry of Defense and adopted new name to draw on the history and significance of the former identity.
- 2013: FC Arsenal Kyiv filed for bankruptcy and was dissolved.
- 2014–2019: The third installment of the club was formed under the name of FC Arsenal-Kyiv.
- 2014: FC Arsenal-Kyiv was established and was based at the Arsenal's Football Academy, and stadium, in Shchaslyve. This was a culmination of efforts from its fan and private investors, among which was notably Oleksiy Kikireshko.
- 2018: In four years, FC Arsenal-Kyiv passed through the lower three leagues to be crowned as Champions of the Ukrainian First League and promotion (and return) to the Ukrainian Premier League.
- 2019: Another collapse in management and lackluster performance in the Premier League saw FC Arsenal-Kyiv cement itself to the bottom of the Premier League table and its relegation and withdrawal from the League.
Soviet period
Created on 14 July 1925,[9] as a multi-sports club of the Arsenal Factory in Kyiv, before World War II the club played mostly in regional competitions for factory workers. In 1936 Arsenal Kyiv took part in the Soviet Cup in football where it was eliminated after the first round of competition after a replay.[10]
After World War II the club played in the Ukrainian Soviet competitions under the name of FC Mashynobudivnyk Kyiv (the SC Arsenal Kyiv also used to have a hockey team, HC Zenit Kyiv).[11] In 1958 Mashynobudivnyk won the competitions and was accepted to the Soviet Class B under the name of FC Arsenal Kyiv. In 1959–1964 the club played in the Soviet Class B. In 1964 the teams of master Arsenal Kyiv was dissolved.[9] In reality however, FC Arsenal Kyiv either lost its relegation play-off or simply yielded its place to already existing FC Temp Kyiv which represented the Kyiv aviation factory Aviant (today part of Antonov corporation). After the season Temp was withdrawn and until the end of 1960s played at the Soviet competitions among collectives of physical culture (KFK).
Later the Arsenal factory also was fielding its football team in the competitions among collectives of physical culture in 1972 – 1977, 1979 and 1980.
Nyva-Borysfen, FC Boryspil, and CSKA-Borysfen (1993–2001)
Foundation and Nyva Myronivka
The club takes its roots from the appearance of FC Boryspil and that fact is well documented. FC Boryspil was established on 9 March 1993 by Ukrainian geologist and entrepreneur Dmytro Zlobenko[12] (1961-2013)[13] along with his partner Ihor Kovalevych[14] and his science production firm "Geoton".[15] Zlobenko managed to find ways in cooperation with local administrations of Myronivka and Boryspil raions (districts in the southeastern part of Kyiv Oblast).[15] With the ongoing season, the club merged with the already existing FC Nyva Myronivka that competed at the Ukrainian Transition League[15] (at that time was considered to have semi-professional status) and took over their brand temporary renaming into Nyva-Borysfen, while the original Nyva restarted as FC Nyva Karapyshi in the Kyiv Oblast Championship.[14] The idea of club's organization, in the beginning, came from another former football player and coach from Kyiv, Ivan Terletskyi who also offered to seek help from Mikhail Oshenkov,[14] a son of Oleg Oshenkov and worked closely with Valeriy Lobanovskyi.[16] Among other people who were involved in creation of the new club were children coach out of Kuchakiv, Viktor Haiduk, director of the local "Kolos" sports society Mykola Kostianets, head of the Boryspil Raion state administration, Mykhailo Muzyka, and Boryspil mayor, Oleksandr Prydatko.[17]
The original coach Volodymyr Kolomiets was left managing the club.[15] Some new players were brought to the squad like Igoris Pankratjevas from FC Dynamo Kyiv and Oleksandr Ivanov from FC Metalist Kharkiv.[15] With the help of Anatoliy Kroshchenko (at that time coached FC Dynamo-3 Kyiv), Nyva-Borysfen's squad was increased with Dynamo Kyiv's young footballers.[17] The same year (1993) Nyva-Borysfen won the Kyiv Oblast Cup, in order to participate in the Ukrainian Cup competitions.[15] The new Nyva-Borysfen started out with a home loss to FC Naftokhimik Kremenchuk, while its next game it surprisingly won away in Kerch against the local FC Voikovets.[15] The first recorded game of the merged club took place on 3 April 1993.[18]
Fielded squad: Ruslan Novikov, Serhiy Kalian, Serhiy Yaroshenko, Vyacheslav Nivinskyi, Oleksandr Otlyotov, Andriy Mikhno, Yuriy Hetman (Kostiantyn Chupys, 40; Oleh Balyuk, 80), Ihor Symonenko, Serhiy Hura (Mykhailo Bezruchko, 55) Yuriy Zhabynskyi, Oleg Solovyov. Coach – Volodymyr Kolomiets.[18]
At the same time in Boryspil started out reconstruction of Kolos Stadium. Already since 15 May 1993, Nyva-Borysfen played its home games at the CSK ZSU Stadium.[18] Nonetheless, the team failed its goals placing just outside the promotion zone in a tournament table.[15] Luckily, the FFU Executive Committee decided to expand leagues and the "Myronivka Boryspilians" obtained the opportunity to jump on a last train car of the amateur "train" that was moving towards the official professional competitions, while heading back there was a more sad "train" that carried to the Transition League relegated from the last place FC CSK ZSU Kyiv.[15] During the inter-seasonal break there were almost no changes made to the club's squad and coaching staff, except for a few players who went on to play for Borysfen Boryspil.
Sponsorship of the Football Federation of Ukraine
Since 1993, Dmytro Zlobenko provided funding for still developing and young Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU). He sponsored various FFU projects, tours and travels of its teams.[15] The amount of financial support was over $500,000.[19] The club administration managed to find a common ground with Yevhen Kotelnykov who at that time was the first vice-president of the Football Federation of Ukraine and played a key role in Ukrainian football.[14] At the club presentation that took place in Kyiv was present Anatoliy Konkov who then administered the Ukrainian amateur football.[14]
Among main sponsored events were an international tournament in Spain for Volodymyr Muntyan U-21 team and a tour of the Ukraine national football team (coached by Oleh Bazylevych) to the United States.[14] Later the club's administration helped the Volodymyr Kyianenko U-16 team (predecessor of Ukraine U-17 team) with a travel to the 1994 UEFA European Under-16 Championship where it placed third.[17] Cooperation with the Muntyan's youth team gave certain preferences in signing several better players among which were Hennadiy Moroz and Vitaliy Pushkutsa.[14] The latter was targeted by Dynamo Kyiv and was signed just before Dynamo came with its offer.[14] Alas, a signing of Vitaliy Kosovskyi did not materialized as Dynamo was faster in signing him,[14] also fell through a transfer of Oleh Luzhnyi.[19]
In 1993, the club among the first in Ukraine built its football stadium in Boryspil (Kolos Stadium) on the funds of private investors.[19] It was completely demolished and built anew in three months.[14] It was completed just before the game for Ukrainian Cup against Dynamo during the 1993-94 season.[14] During the stadium's reconstruction, Borysfen played at a high school stadium in Shchaslyve.[20]
Second League and Borysfen Boryspil
Before the 1993–94 season in the Second League, the place of newly promoted Nyva-Borysfen was de facto handed over to the newly established FC Borysfen Boryspil, while Nyva that restarted as FC Nyva Karapyshi was reinstated as Nyva Myronivka in the Transitional League (Perekhidna Liha). The promoted Borysfen Boryspil managed to secure head coach services of Viktor Kolotov who along with Anatoliy Demyanenko joined the club coming from CSK ZSU Kyiv.[14][15] During the summer interseason the new club was conducting tryouts for several players who previously played for FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv or were affiliated with Dynamo Kyiv football school system.[14][15] Among those players it is worth to mention such as Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, Vladyslav Vashchuk, Ihor Fedorov, Oleksandr Venhlinskyi, Viktor Belkin, Mykola Volosyanko.[19][15][17] In the preseason FC Borysfen signed several other important players such as Stepan Matviyiv (top scorer of 1992–93 season).[15][14] Also while looking after a new club during the summer interseason, the Soviet international player Hennadiy Litovchenko played few friendlies on the team, but later stayed in the club.[15]
FC Borysfen Boryspil became the first Ukrainian club out of Druha Liha that spent its inter-seasonal break abroad in the German neighborhood Ruit (part of Ostfildern, near Stuttgart) which was favorite spot of FC Dynamo Kyiv and Valeriy Lobanovskyi, in particular[15][14] and Graz in Austria.[14][17]
Its first game at professional level the club played on 17 August 1993 in Kerch against the local Voikovets tying it at 2.[20]
Fielded squad: Oleksandr Filipchenko – Ihor Fedorov, Dmytro Koryenyev, Mykola Volosyanko, Dmytro Semchuk – Vladimir Matsigura, Oleksandr Venhlinskyi[a] (Oleh Sukhomlynov), Pavlo Nesterchuk, Viktor Byelkin (Mykhailo Bezruchko) – Oleg Solovyov, Serhiy Kovalyov (Oleksandr Ivanov). Coach – Viktor Kolotov.[20]
In the 1993–94 Ukrainian Cup, the club passed two rounds beating such clubs like FC Khimik Zhytomyr and FC Nyva Karapyshi (predecessor of the revived Nyva Myronivka), but was eliminated in the round of 32 losing both games of two legs play-off against FC Dynamo Kyiv.[21]
During the first half the Kolotov's team nine times tied losing points with not very strong opponents.[15] Although in main games were obtained decisive home victories, and succeeded in tying with strong Naftokhimik in Kremenchuk, in a spring Borysfen changed a head coach, its squad and the club's name.[15] After the first half Borysfen was leading with closest pursuer FC Yavir Krasnopillia trailing by a point.[15] At the end of 1993 FC Borysfen was negotiating with Valeriy Lobanovskyi who had his contract expired with United Arab Emirates (UAE national football team).[17][15] After three days of negotiations, Lobanovskyi signed a contract with the Kuwait national football team.[15] The club changed its name to FC Boryspil during the winter break.[15] The new head coach was appointed Volodymyr Bezsonov who also was coaching CSK ZSU previously as Kolotov, leaving his armymen to Volodymyr Lozynskyi.[15] His assistant became Volodymyr Muntyan.[15] During midseason the club lost Litovchenko who left for Admira Wacker.[15] During the winter break, the club again spent time abroad leaving twice to Slovakia and again to Ruit-Ostfildern in Germany.[15] The club joined following debutants Hennadiy Moroz, Eduard Tsykhmeistruk, Vitaliy Pushkutsa, Ervand Sukiasian, Viktor Ulianytskyi, Oleksandr Lyubynskyi, Andriy Kyrlyk, Vitaliy Ponomarenko, Mykhailo Stelmakh.[15] Started out a bit shy with draws in the rows, the club managed to gain the champion's stride with only one loss in the second half and winning early the Druha Liha (Second League).[15]
First League and merger with CSKA
Successes of the Boryspil club have done their job and Borysfen, that before its debut in the 1994–95 Ukrainian First League (Persha Liha) returned its previous name, a priori was considered among the season's favorites.[15] For the new season Bezsonov shuffled his coaching staff inviting Yevhen Lemeshko, Ivan Terletskyi, and Viktor Chanov.[15] Beside having Viktor Chanov as a goalie coach, the new season Borysfen started out with such experienced goalies like Volodymyr Savchenko, Valeriy Vorobyov, Oleksandr Humenyuk, and Vadim Egoshkin.[15] Also the club managed to secure services of the Ukraine's international Dmytro Topchiev.[15] The season Borysfen started out well, but lost several important games including one in Kirovohrad (Kropyvnytskyi) against the local FC Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad.[15] The culmination came in September when the club lost to FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv 0:4 with the first goal has been scored by the unknown at that time 17 year old Andriy Shevchenko.[15] Following the loss, Zlobenko replaced Bezsonov with Mykhailo Fomenko who was about to sign a contract with the Guinea national football team and has won his first game with the team against Botswana at the 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification.[15] At the winter break the club was placing third in the league.[15]
In the 1994–95 Ukrainian Cup, the club again passed two rounds beating such clubs like FC Zmina-Obolon Kyiv and FC CSKA Kyiv (both playing away), but was eliminated in the round of 32 losing in two legs play-off against FC Veres Rivne.[22]
At the same time FC CSKA Kyiv was playing at the 1994–95 Ukrainian Third League[15] which was to be discontinued for the next seasons and most clubs would have been admitted to the Second League (Druha Liha). Before that CSKA played as CSK ZSU Kyiv in the 1992–93 Ukrainian Second League and was relegated.[15] Led by Volodymyr Lozynskyi, FC CSKA Kyiv won the 1994–95 season in the Third League (Tretia Liha) gaining 101 season points and was to be promoted back to the Second League.[15] Yet, the armymen wanted something more.[15] During the 1994–95 winter break the Minister of Defense Valeriy Shmarov and Dmytro Zlobenko reached an agreement about uniting of efforts and creation of the club CSKA–Borysfen.[15] At disposal of Boryspil partners there appeared a football "administrative resource" of the army allowing, for example, at once to "call" under the club's colours from FC Veres Rivne the most talented half-back Oleksandr Svystunov and the other side received financial rears that CSKA so lacked.[15] The team had lived in a hotel on territory of the RUFK boarding school (today Piddubny Olympic College) where it had trained among other places such as CSKA Stadium and sometimes even Republican Stadium.[15] At the same time the Ministry of Defense kept its original CSKA team as well that continued to play at the Second League.[23]
The 1995 spring portion of the season CSKA–Borysfen started out under new name, being registered in the capital city, and notable reinforcement.[15] To the team's games that played at the CSKA Stadium on Povitroflotskyi prospekt were drawn football fans as the team was composed out of legends of the Soviet football, merited masters of sport, and holders of many other whatnot titles.[15] To its first spring game against Krystal from Chortkiv, the team consisted of following players Viktor Chanov, Oleh Kuznetsov, Yervand Sukiasyan, Mikheil Jishkariani, Andriy Annenkov, Vladyslav Prudius, Stepan Matviyiv, Mykola Volosyanko, Mykola Zakotyuk, Vitaliy Pushkutsa, and Oleh Pestryakov.[15] The squad completely thrashed Krystal 5:0 and then seven games in a row went without a loss, stumbled two times in a row, and confidently finished the end of season.[15] With help of Andrei Fedkov, the team managed to beat its main opponent of the season, FC Zirka Kirovohrad, finishing second after Zirka.[15]
Top league debut
Since the 1995–96 season, the club has continuously competed in the top flight until its bankruptcy in late 2013.
The optimal squad consisted of Vitaliy Reva, Mykola Volosyanko, Serhiy Diryavka, Serhiy Fedorov, Mykola Zakotyuk, Andriy Annenkov, Oleksandr Svystunov, Eduard Tsykhmeistruk, Oleh Pestryakov, Vitaliy Pushkutsa, Andriy Husin and was coached by Mykhailo Fomenko.[24]
In 1996, CSKA-Borysfen went through another transformation. Just before the start of new 1996–97 season a scandal took place related to ownership. Dmytro Zlobenko was removed from the club which with help of the Army was passed to some businessman by name of Mikhail Grinshpon, a president of "Kyiv–Donbass".[25]
The army-men also managed to appear in the domestic cup's finals twice (1998 and 2001), where they lost both times: first against city-rivals Dynamo Kyiv and then against Shakhtar Donetsk. The club's greatest achievements include a successful UEFA Cup run in the season of 2001–02, defeating the now defunct Finnish side Jokerit and Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade.
Following the disaster in Brovary on 20 April 2000, Mikhail Grinshpon ran from Ukraine. But after Ihor Smeshko became a director of the Security Service of Ukraine in 2003, Grinshpon returned to Ukraine becoming an adviser to director of the State Space Agency of Ukraine.[26]
Since 1999 FC CSKA–Kyiv was headed by Andriy Artemenko until 2000.[27] Along with Oleksandr Omelchenko, Artemenko was one of founders of the Ukrainian political party Yednist.[27]
FC Arsenal Kyiv (2001–2013)
Creation of the club
Arsenal Kyiv (2003–2013)
After the 2000 financial crisis at CSKA, the club, as a state company of the Sports Committee of Ministry of Defense, had its budget cut and was on the brink of being dissolved.[28] On 9 October 2001 Oleksandr Danylchuk was calling rumours and populistic claims when commenting on the declarations about CSKA Kyiv will become Arsenal Kyiv.[29] Transferring of CSKA under jurisdiction of the city authorities is not taking placing.[29] There is no "Arsenal".[29] Not me, nor the Ministry of Defense will make any kind of deal.[29] The words of Oleksandr Omelchenko have no actual confirmations.[29] There is no any commercial entities and no people's deputies who participate in creation of "Arsenal".[29] Those are all empty talks that take place not one year already.[29] During that time, the city did not invest a single dime in the club.[29]
On 19 October 2001 after a meeting with the deputy minister Ivan Bizhan, the city mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko and the CSKA honorary president Oleksandr Danylchuk, it was decided to create on the base of the Army team a new entity, Arsenal Kyiv.[30] On the proposition of CSKA–Kyiv (part of "Unіsport Consaltіng Ltd"), in the same day the Kyiv city mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko issued an order on constituting a limited liability company FC Arsenal Kyiv where 51% of the company owned by the Kyiv city community.[31][32][33] The other 49% was still owned by the Ministry of Defense and CSKA as a company.[31][32][34] On 8 November 2001 the Kyiv City Council adopted the decision on the creation of the club and increase the constituent fund to 80% (₴9,440), while the other 20% (₴2,360) belonged to other members of the company.[35][36] The First League second team CSKA-2 Kyiv continued to be affiliated with the Ministry of Defense and once again became the primary team of the Army football club, FC CSKA Kyiv.
Arsenal was created as the Kyiv's city team and fully funded by the Kyiv City Administration with an annual budget of ₴40 million (~US$8 million).[37] Transformation of CSKA into Arsenal was not a single day process and after 1 January 2002 the process was still ongoing.[38] Under the Omelchenko's guardianship Arsenal played at the main national football venue (today Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex) without any concerns, yet later it was "kicked out" of the capital and for sometime was forced to play in Boryspil or rent the Dynamo's home venues. Omelchenko who was a political opponent of Surkis brothers (Hryhoriy Surkis and Ihor Surkis) insisted that Dynamo should be playing at its home venue Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium.
While under the city government's ownership, Arsenal struggled financially, resorting to loaning many of its first team's squad players. Soon after election of a new mayor Leonid Chernovetskyi, the city had decreased funding to the club significantly as it sought to reduce its numerous sports holdings and on 13 July 2006 adopted a decision to sell it at auction scheduled on 14 November 2006 and starting at ₴1.1 million.[39] Preparations to sell the club started earlier and no later than 1 June 2006.[40] The initial auction failed to occur and was rescheduled, while the starting was lowered to ₴770,000.[41] In May 2007, it was announced that the club would be demoted due to financial issues, however soon afterwards it was revealed that Arsenal would be purchased by Ukrainian oligarch, Vadim Rabinovich. The new owner started actively financing the club and its transfers. In January 2009 the Mayor of Kyiv Leonid Chernovetskyi bought Arsenal Kyiv for ₴1 from Rabynovich; Chernovetskiy's 30-year-old son Stepan became the club's president. The following year Rabynovich bought the club back due to the poor management.
Its European competition season in 2001–02, the club played under the brand of CSKA while de facto for the whole year was known as Arsenal.
Bankruptcy in 2013
In 2013, after selling of the club by Rabinovich to Onyshchenko, there started a promotional campaign for revival of historical heritage of another Sports Club Arsenal Kyiv that used to exist at the Kyiv Arsenal Factory trying to connect the old sports club of 1925 with the newly created club of 2001.
In January 2013, the owner Rabynovych stated that the club could be liquidated.[42] According to some sources related to politics, Rabynovych could have been a frontman for Ihor Kolomoiskyi.[43] During the next month it was announced that Ukrainian oligarch Oleksandr Onyshchenko was ready to finance the club and claimed that he had paid all the debts.[42] He also accused the previous leadership of the club of not passing the documents for signing the agreements on the transfer of corporate rights to the club.[42] On 19 June 2013, Onyshchenko announced that he will rename Arsenal back to CSKA and move the club to Boryspil.[44] On 29 August 2013, Rabynovych stated that he had resigned from the post of club president.[42] The next day Onyschenko stated that due to the (then) present situation he could decide not to help the club.[42] On 24 October 2013, Onyschenko stated that he had stopped financing Arsenal.[42] The next day Arsenal failed to appear for a 2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League match against SC Tavriya Simferopol.[42] On 28 October 2013, it again failed to appear for a 2013–14 Ukrainian Cup match against FC Nyva Ternopil.[42] The next day general director Viktor Holovko announced that the club was filing for bankruptcy and withdrawing from competitions as it was unable to find any sponsors.[42][45][46]
On 15 November 2013, FC Shakhtar Donetsk Chairman Rinat Akhmetov announced that after financial help from the other teams in the league; the Arsenal squad would be able to complete its 2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League season.[47] But the next day Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk refused to (re)play the (16th round) match Arsenal had earlier failed to appear for (due to its bankruptcy).[47] On 21 November 2013, the FFU Control and Disciplinary Committee adopted its decision to disqualify "Arsenal" in accordance to the regulation statement about failure to show for two calendar (scheduled) games.[48]
FC Arsenal-Kyiv (2014–2019)
Reorganization in 2014
The Arsenal team that was re-founded in 2001 went bankrupt in late 2013,[42] but the club was soon reformed and currently plays as an amateur team in the Kyiv City League competition.[49][50]
In January 2014 an initiative group of former club players and fans with the help of Kyiv businessman and rally driver Oleksiy Kikireshko re-established the club as FC Arsenal-Kyiv.
After its last game of the 2014 Kyiv city championship on 9 November 2014, which was won by FC Arsenal-Kyiv, the club's president Kikireshko announced that the club submitted a preliminary application on participation in the Ukrainian Second League for the 2015–16 Ukrainian Second League season.[51] It was accepted.[52]
The club appointed Andriy Annenkov in February 2014,[53] but he resigned after an unsuccessful start to a new season on 8 August 2015.[54]
Return to the Ukrainian Premier League
In February 2018, it became known that a new president of the club and its co-owner became the club's former player from Croatia Ivica Pirić.[55] The other 50% of the club belong to a former football referee Oleksandr Moskalenko.[56][57]
On 28 April 2018, FC Arsenal Kyiv announced that since the next season it could be called FC Arsenal-CSKA Kyiv.[58] Later the club's director Oleksandr Moskalenko told that the club will play at Bannikov Stadium if it gets promoted to the 2018–19 Ukrainian Premier League.[59] The stadium however does not meet the league's threshold requirements for the minimum capacity.[59]
During the winter of 2018–19 FC Arsenal-Kyiv was involved in business conflict over its home base which is connected with the Russian financial institution Sberbank.[60] FC Arsenal-Kyiv shares its home base in Shchaslyve with the Shakhtar football academy.[60]
Supporters and rivalries
Due to predominant right-wing football supporters in Ukraine, the Arsenal supporters "Mad Rebels" lean strongly towards the anti-fascist movement and in the majority perceived as left-wing supporters.[61] Colors of the Arsenal fans coincide with those of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic's flag, while the Kyiv Arsenal factory is associated with pro-Bolshevik sentiment during the Kiev Arsenal January Uprising in 1918 following which Kyiv was overrun by the armed forces of Soviet Russia. The Arsenal supporters could also be associated with Partizan Minsk who have similar political beliefs.[61] Arsenal fans were interviewed by the BBC in 2012 for a documentary on football hooliganism called Stadiums of Hate,[62] before the UEFA Euro 2012, however their interviews were omitted from the final edit, leading some people to criticise the BBC for ignoring them in order to push their message of fascism further.[61][63]
Arsenal's archrivals are the majority nationalist and right-wing Dynamo Kyiv, with whom they contest the Kyiv derby. They also have a rivalry with the other Kyiv team, CSKA Kyiv, not only along political lines but also due to the controversial intertwining of the two club's histories. Other fierce rivals are Karpaty Lviv and FC Dnipro.[64]
Stadiums and home fields
The original and first home stadium became Kolos Stadium. The club's main training facility are located in one of Kyiv's suburbs Shchaslyve, just outside of the Kyiv's city limits on the way towards Boryspil.
In 1995, the club became affiliated with the Armed Forces of Ukraine as CSKA-Borysfen and played at CSK ZSU Stadium which belongs to the Central Sports Club of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In 2001 after becoming the Kyiv municipal team the club "pushed" out of Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex, the leader of Ukrainian football, FC Dynamo Kyiv and reserved the arena until its renovations in 2008 for its preparation to the Euro 2012.
Later Arsenal played at various smaller stadiums such as Bannikov Stadium, Obolon Arena, and others.
Arsenal Arena (formerly Knyazha Arena)
CSK ZSU Stadium (1993-2001)
Football kits and sponsors
Presidents
- 1993–1995: NPF Geoton Boryspil (Dmytro Zlobenko)[66] as FC Borysfen Boryspil → FC Boryspil → FC Borysfen Boryspil → FC CSKA–Borysfen Kyiv
- 1995–1998: Kyiv–Donbass (Mikhail Grinshpon) as FC CSCA–Kyiv[67][68]
- 1998–1999: Kyiv–Donbass (Viktor Topolov)[67]
- 1999–2000: Andriy Artemenko
- 2000-2001: Unіsport Consaltіng Ltd (Oleksandr Danylchuk)[32]
- 2001–2007: Kyiv city administration (Oleksandr Omelchenko and Leonid Chernovetskyi, team transformed into Arsenal Kyiv)
- 2007–2013: Vadym Rabinovych
- 2013: Oleksandr Onyshchenko (club dissolved)
- 2014–2018: Oleksiy Kikireshko (club was reestablished as Arsenal-Kyiv)
- 2018: Ivica Pirić (co-owner)
Coaches and administration
| Administration | Coaching (senior team) | Coaching (U-21 team) |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Players
Last squad
[69][70]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Honours
Soviet factory team
- As "Mashynobudivnyk Kyiv"
- Championship of the Ukrainian SSR
- Winners (2): 1954, 1958
Ukrainian team
- As "FC Boryspil"
- Ukrainian Second League
- Winners (1): 1993–94
- As "CSKA-Borysfen"
- Ukrainian First League
- Runner up (1): 1994–95
- As "CSKA Kyiv"
- Ukrainian Cup
- Runner up (2): 1998, 2001
- As "Arsenal Kyiv"
- Ukrainian First League
- Winners (1): 2017–18
League and cup history
Soviet Union (Mashynobudivnyk–Arsenal)
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes Mashynobudivnyk 1949 Republican
4th3 (Zone 1) Information is missing 1950-51 Information is missing 1952 Republican First Group
4th3 (Zone 1) 22 13 7 5 73 20 33 1953 Republican
4th2 (Zone 4) 10 8 0 2 22 8 16 Zenit 1954 Republican
4th1 (Zone 1) 10 7 2 1 45 9 16 qualified 1 6 5 0 1 10 2 10 Lost promotion playoff with ODO Kyiv
Champion of UkraineMashynobudivnyk 1955 Republican
4th1 (Zone 1) 14 13 0 1 41 6 26 qualified 6 7 0 4 3 10 14 4 1956 1 (Zone 1) 14 12 0 2 57 12 24 qualified 2 6 3 3 0 10 5 9 Lost championship playoff with Shakhtar K 1957 1 (Zone 1) 10 8 1 1 30 10 17 qualified 3 8 3 3 2 17 10 9 1958 1 (Zone 1) 13 10 3 0 61 12 23 qualified 2 (Group 1) 5 3 1 1 8 5 7 qualified 1 3 2 1 0 5 2 5 Lost promotion playoff with Chornomorets
Champion of UkraineArsenal 1959 Class B
2nd5 (Zone 2) 28 13 8 7 49 37 34 1960 Class B of UkrSSR
2nd3 (Zone 1) 32 17 9 6 59 29 43 Won relegation playoff with Oktyabrskyi Raion Kyiv 1961 15 (Zone 1) 34 10 9 15 49 45 29 Lost playoff with Avanhard K/R
Won relegation playoff with Temp Kyiv1962 7 (Zone 1) 24 5 13 6 18 19 23 qualified 22 (Places 18–28) 10 4 2 4 16 11 10 Relegated 1963 Class B of UkrSSR
3rd10 (Zone 1) 38 13 10 15 38 39 36 Lost playoff to Dniprovets
Withdrew
Ukraine
Borysfen–CSKA–Arsenal
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes Nyva–Borysfen 1992–93 Transitional League
3rd (lower)4 34 19 7 8 45 28 45 Promoted Borysfen 1993–94 Second League
3rd1 42 26 13 3 84 28 65 Relocated to Boryspil; in the second half FC Boryspil; Promoted CSKA–Borysfen 1994–95 First League
2nd2 42 26 9 7 73 31 87 Merged with CSCA Kyiv; Promoted 1995–96 Top League
1st4 34 15 11 8 47 27 56 1/16 finals CSKA 1996–97 Top League
1st11 30 9 8 13 33 35 35 1/2 finals 1997–98 13 30 9 6 15 30 35 33 Runner-up 1998–99 7 30 11 10 9 37 35 43 1/8 finals CWC 1st round 1999–00 10 30 9 8 13 31 36 35 1/4 finals 2000–01 6 26 10 10 6 30 23 40 Runner-up Arsenal (mid-season name change) 2001–02 Top League
1st12 26 6 5 15 18 28 23 1/4 finals UC 2nd round 2002–03 5 30 16 8 6 24 25 56 1/4 finals 2003–04 9 30 10 7 13 38 44 37 1/8 finals 2004–05 9 30 9 10 11 30 33 37 1/16 finals 2005–06 12 30 9 8 13 31 39 35 1/4 finals 2006–07 14 30 7 9 14 28 44 30 1/32 finals 2007–08 6 30 11 9 10 42 36 42 1/8 finals 2008–09 Premier League
1st11 30 8 8 14 26 33 32 1/8 finals 2009–10 7 30 11 9 10 44 41 42 1/16 finals 2010–11 9 30 10 7 13 36 38 37 1/2 finals 2011–12 5 30 14 9 7 44 27 51 1/4 finals 2012–13 8 30 10 9 11 34 41 39 1/4 finals EL 3rd qual round 2013–14 — 14 3 1 10 10 31 10 1/8 finals Expelled[71]
Arsenal—Kyiv
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes 2014[8] Kyiv Oblast
5th10 13 8 1 4 25 22 25 Amateur Cup also participated in the Kyiv city championship 2015–16 Second League
3rd6 26 13 4 9 37 30 43 1/16 finals Promoted[72] 2016–17 First League
2nd10 34 12 9 13 38 39 45 1/16 finals 2017–18 1 34 23 6 5 59 23 75 1⁄8 finals Promoted 2018–19 Premier League
1st12 32 7 5 20 26 56 26 1⁄16 finals Dissolved
European competitions
Arsenal Kyiv appeared in the European competitions for the first time as CSKA Kyiv in 1998 (1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup) in away game against the Irish Cork City F.C. which CSKA lost 1–2. The first two qualifications to European competitions were achieved by reaching the final of the Ukrainian Cup in 1998 and 2001. During that time Arsenal Kyiv was known as CSKA Kyiv.
The first appearance in the European competitions under Arsenal brand the club made in 2012.
CSKA Kyiv
| Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Qualifying round | Cork City | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 |
| First Round | Lokomotiv Moscow | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 |
| Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Qualifying round | FC Jokerit | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| First round | Red Star Belgrade | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | |
| Second round | Club Brugge K.V. | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–7 |
Arsenal Kyiv
| Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Third qualifying round | ND Mura 05 | 0–31 | 2–0 | 2–3 |
- Notes
- Note 1: UEFA awarded Mura 05 a 3–0 win due to Arsenal Kyiv fielding a suspended player in the first leg. The original match had ended in a 3–0 win for Arsenal Kyiv.
Managers
- Viktor Kolotov (1993)
- Volodymyr Bezsonov (1994)
- Mykhailo Fomenko (1994–1996)
- Viktor Chanov (1996) (caretaker)
- Bernd Stange (1996–1997)
- Volodymyr Bezsonov (1997–2000)
- Mykhailo Fomenko (2000–2001)
- Oleh Kuznetsov (1 July 2001 – 30 June 2002)
- Vyacheslav Hroznyi (1 July 2002 – 30 June 2004)
- Oleksandr Baranov (1 July 2004 – 1 Nov 2005)
- Oleksandr Zavarov (10 Nov 2005 – 28 Jan 2010)
- Vyacheslav Hroznyi (28 Jan 2010 – 16 April 2010)
- Yuriy Bakalov (interim) (22 April 2010 – 18 May 2010)
- Yuriy Bakalov (18 May 2010 – 29 May 2011)
- Leonid Kuchuk (2 June 2011 – 31 Dec 2012)
- Yuriy Bakalov (5 Jan 2013 – 21 Nov 2013)
- Serhiy Zakarlyuka (22 Nov 2013 – 31 Jan 2014) (caretaker)
- Andriy Annenkov (1 Feb 2014 – 8 Aug 2015)
- Angel Chervenkov (13 Aug 2015 – 15 Dec 2015)
- Serhiy Litovchenko (23 Dec 2015 – 22 Jun 2018)
- Fabrizio Ravanelli (22 Jun 2018 – 22 Sep 2018)
- Vladyslav Humenyuk (22 Sep 2018 – 1 Oct 2018) (caretaker)
- Vyacheslav Hroznyi (1 Oct 2018 – 9 Jan 2019)
- Ihor Leonov (16 Jan 2019 – June 2019)
See also
Notes
- ^ a brother of Oleh Venhlinskyi
References
- ^ . FC Arsenal-Kyiv.
- ^ Arsenal-Kyiv. UA-Football.
- ^ Arsenal-Kyiv. Professional Football League of Ukraine.
- ^ at the PFL of Ukraine
- ^ Pankratov, P. . Ukraina Kryminalna. 9 December 2003
- ^ Verbytskyi, I. There is no other Dnipro. How Kolomoiskyi tries to write off 20 million in debts (Немає другого Дніпра. Як Коломойський намагається 20 мільйонів боргу списати). Football 24. 22 June 2017
- ^ 2001–2002 season. RSSSF
- ^ a b Kutsenko, V. . UA-Football. 22 December 2014
- ^ a b History of Kyivan Arsenal (История киевского «Арсенала») 3 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine. FC Arsenal Kyiv website.
- ^ Soviet Union Cup 1936
- ^ . tribuna.com. 27 July 2013
- ^ Dmytro Zlobenko passed away (Не стало Дмитра Злобенка). Football Federation of Kyiv Oblast. 15 April 2013
- ^ Dmytro Zlobenko at the Footballfacts
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Bebekh, R. . Matchday. 14 February 2014
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av
- ^ Oshemkov, son of Oshenkov. Lobanovskyi's co-worker (Ошемков, сын Ошенкова. Соратник Лобановского). Sport-Ekspress in Ukraine. 12 April 2013
- ^ a b c d e f Ihor Kovalevych: "Borysfen" was a people's team (Ігор Ковалевич: "Борисфен був народною командою" ). Footboom. 31 May 2014
- ^ a b c . Ukrainskiy futbol ot Alekseya Kobyzeva.
- ^ a b c d Semenenko, O. . Vzgliad. 17 April 2013
- ^ a b c . Ukrainian Football by Alexei Kobyzev.
- ^ 1993-94 Ukrainian Cup. Ukrainian Football.
- ^ 1994-95 Ukrainian Cup. Ukrainian Football from Dmitriy Troshchiy.
- ^ . CSKA of Ukraine.
- ^ Legendary team of Ukrainian championship: issue #18 (Легендарні команди чемпіонату України: випуск #18). Ukrainian Premier League. 6 February 2018
- ^ Varis, S. . Skelet Info. 17 July 2017
- ^ Varis, S. "Mikhail Grinshpon: astronomical "partitioner" of Ukraine. Part 2." (Михаил Гриншпон: космический «распильщик» Украины. ЧАСТЬ 2). Skelet Info. 18 July 2017
- ^ a b . Fakty. 20 February 2017
- ^ . Championat. 29 October 2013
- ^ a b c d e f g h . Sport.ru. 9 October 2001
- ^ CSKA Kyiv will become Arsenal after all (Киевский цска таки станет «арсеналом»). Fakty. 20 October 2001
- ^ a b CSKA officially was renamed into Arsenal (ЦСКА официально переименован в "Арсенал"). Ukrayinska Pravda. 19 October 2001
- ^ a b c . Korrespondent. 21 October 2001
- ^ In Kyiv appeared own "Arsenal" (У Киева появился свой «Арсенал»). Terrikon. 19 October 2001
- ^ . UNIAN photo. 15 August 2001
- ^ FC Arsenal players wrote a letter to Omelchenko (Игроки ФК "Арсенал" написали письмо Омельченко). UA-Football. 28 November 2006
- ^ Babiy, O. "Arsenal is disarmed. Top-18 points out of the history of Kyivan club (Разоружен "Арсенал"." Топ-18 пунктов из истории киевского клуба). Football 24. 7 November 2013
- ^ Samofalov, D. . Antikor. 17 September 2015
- ^ CSKA Kyiv is on the brink of a strike (Киевский ЦСКА на грани забастовки). Dynamomania. 4 January 2002
- ^ Omelchenko wants "Arsenal" for free (Омельченко хочет "Арсенал" бесплатно). UA-Arsenal. 28 December 2006
- ^ A cinema and ... Chernovetskyi instructed the ex-Prime Minister Pustovoitenko to "bury" the Omelchenko's offspring (Кино и... Черновецкий поручил экс-премьеру Пустовойтенко "похоронить" детище Омельченко – ФК "Арсенал"? ). Censor.net. 1 June 2006
- ^ Omelchenko: Arsenal is not selling on a fault of the Kyiv city council (Омельченко: "Арсенал" не продается по вине Киевсовета). Obozrevatel. 27 December 2006
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Arsenal Kyiv director general says club out of all competitions, bankruptcy procedures launched, Interfax-Ukraine (1 November 2013)
FC Arsenal (Kyiv) starts bankruptcy procedure, drops out of competition, says director, Interfax-Ukraine (31 October 2013) - ^ Novakovskyi, M. "Kadyrov's racers" and "elusive" Rabynovych («Кадыровские рысаки» и «неуловимый» Рабинович). ORD. 10 September 2013
- ^ Marianko, Ya. . Tribuna. 19 June 2013
- ^ ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ ГЕНЕРАЛЬНОГО ДИРЕКТОРА ФК "АРСЕНАЛ" (КИЕВ) ВИКТОРА ГОЛОВКО [Announcement of the general director of FC Arsenal Kyiv Viktor Holovko] (in Ukrainian). FC Arsenal Kyiv. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ Киевский Арсенал снимается с чемпионата [Kyiv Arsenal is withdrawing from competitions] (in Ukrainian). ua-football.com. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ a b PRESS: Owners of Ukrainian Premier League clubs willing to help FC Arsenal Kyiv financially, Interfax-Ukraine (16 November 2013)
(in Russian) "Днепр" не поддержал предложение реанимации "Арсенала" "Dnipro" does not supported the resurrection of "Arsenal", Gazeta.ua (17 November 2013) - ^ "Arsenal" was withdrawn out of the Ukrainian championship by the Federation decision ("Арсенал" снят с чемпионата Украины решением Федерации). Mirror Weekly. 21 November 2013
- ^ Киевский "Арсенал" возвращается на футбольное поле [Arsenal Kyiv returns to the football pitch] (in Russian). terrikon. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ [dead link]Киевский "Арсенал" снова в строю! [Arsenal Kyiv again in uniforms]. Official Arsenal Kyiv website (in Russian). 27 April 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ^ "Arsenal kyiv submitted a preliminary application on participation in the Second League". UA-Football (in Russian). 10 November 2014.
- ^ "Resurrection of Arsenal Kiev?". 27 December 2014.
- ^ "В Счастливом создан новый киевский Арсенал, инвестор – Кикирешко". 27 April 2014.
- ^ "ЗМІ: Анненков подав у відставку, Арсенал очолить Червенков". 12 August 2015.
- ^ The Croatian Ivica Pirić became a co-owner and a president of Arsenal-Kyiv (Хорват Ивица Пирич стал совладельцем и президентом Арсенал-Киев). Sport Arena. 12 February 2018
- ^ Valerko, A. The president of Arsenal Piric: I hope that in the summer we will be already in the Premier-Liha (Президент Арсенала Пирич: «Надеюсь, летом будем уже в Премьер-лиге»). Sport Arena. 19 February 2018
- ^ Oleksandr Moskalenko at FootballFacts.ru
- ^ "Пирич: "Министерство обороны хотело собственную футбольную команду"" [Piric: "Ministry of Defense wanted its own football team"]. Sport Arena. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ a b Arsenal will be playing at Bannikov Training Complex in case of promotion to UPL (Арсенал будет играть на УТК им. Банникова в случае выхода в УПЛ). Sport Arena. 30 April 2018
- ^ a b Arsenal-Kyiv is being accused in corporate raid. The club denies everything. Sport Arena. 14 January 2019
- ^ a b c Veth, M. . Futbolgrad. 20 July 2013
- ^ "BBC One – Panorama, Euro 2012: Stadiums of Hate". BBC. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ ""Linke leben hier gefährlich!" – Neonazis im ukrainischen Fußball". 11FREUNDE (in German). Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ "Ukrainian Ultras – Where Two Wings Collide". 20 July 2013.
- ^ Jerseys of Ukrainian clubs 25 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ . CSKA of Ukraine website
- ^ a b . CSKA of Ukraine.
- ^ . Footboom. 14 February 2014
- ^ . Archived from the original on 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Arsenal-Kyiv".
- ^ On 29 October 2013, the general director of FC Arsenal Kyiv Viktor Holovko announced that the club was filing for bankruptcy and withdrawing from competitions as it was unable to find any sponsors. "Arsenal Kyiv director general says club out of all competitions, bankruptcy procedures launched". Interfax-Ukraine. 1 November 2013."FC Arsenal (Kyiv) starts bankruptcy procedure, drops out of competition, says director". Interfax-Ukraine. 31 October 2013.
The General Assembly of the Ukrainian Premier League was unable to reach a quorum and hence no decision was made on the expulsion of the club from the UPL.Гендиректор УПЛ пояснив, чому Данілов не приїхав на Загальні збори [General Director of UPL explained why Danilov did not come to the General Assembly] (in Ukrainian). ua-football.com. 18 December 2013. (18 December 2013)
On 12 February 2014 Arsenal Kyiv was officially expelled from the league and all club's results were annulled. (PDF) (in Ukrainian). 12 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014. - ^ Originally, as per competition regulations the top three teams were promoted from the 2015–16 Ukrainian Second League. (in Ukrainian) [Second league, Round 24: Cherkaskyi Dnipro and Obolon-Brovar enter First League]. Professional Football League of Ukraine. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
However, prior to the season commencing at the Conference of the PFL in preparation for the season the committee decided to expand the competition to eighteen teams and include the fourth, fifth and sixth placed teams. В Першій лізі можуть стартувати 18 команд [18 teams may compete in the First League]. UA-Football (in Ukrainian). 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
External links
- Official website 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- History of Arsenal
- Valerko, A. . Football.ua. 4 January 2011 (Part I)
- ( 5 January 2011. Part II)
- Valerko, A. Ukrainian awestruck wonders (Украинские диковинки). Football.ua. 9 January 2014
- Ozirnyi, O. In anticipation of Sevastopol: the best newcomers of the elite (В ожидании Севастополя: лучшие новички элиты). Football.ua. 14 July 2013
- Borysenko, O. . Mirror Weekly. 22 November 2002
- Bebekh, R. CSKA administrator: "Reva said: If there is a nit on the team, do not go on the game against Shakhtar!" (Руководитель ЦСКА: "Рева сказал: "Если в команде есть гнида, то на игру с "Шахтером" не выходи!") Footboom. 21 June 2013